Memorial light



W. J. PETERS MEMORIAL LIGHT April 2, 1968 Filed May 13, 1966 United States Patent G 3,376,413 MEMRIAL LIGHT William J. Peters, Grass `Valley, Caiif., assigner to E. F. L., Inc., a corporation of California Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,905 8 Claims. (Cl. 24M- 6.4)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An elongated plastic container has a removable transparent closure on the upper end thereof and a metallic container containing electric cells Within the bottom portion thereof. The metallic container carries an insulated closure plate which has on its bottom surface a metal cell contact plate and on its upper surface an incandescent electric lamp contact element. The metal plate, for carrying said lamp, is electrically connected to said metallic container by means projecting upwardly toward said closure and providing means for facilitating manual removal of the metallic receptacle and parts carried thereby.

This invention relates to a new and novel memorial device for perpetuating the memory of a deceased person and is directed particularly to an improved device of this character designed to be illuminated in the nature of an eternal or perpetual flame light.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a light memorial device which is designed to be set or installed for use in a receptive opening in a suitable enclosing body such as the earth, a memorial tablet, plaque, mausoleum wall or other suitable and appropriate structures and to maintain a light therein in such a manner as to be readily seen or observed by persons in the vicinity thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character having electrical light producing means therein and a self-contained source of electrical potential whereby the device can be installed in locations or areas Where an outside source of electrical means or electric current supply is not available.

More particularly the invention is directed to the provision of a device of the nature described which embodies a suitable housing of metal, plastic or the like having a removable light transmitting top or cover and having therein a replaceable source of electric potential together with an incandescent lighting element supported in electrical connection with the source of potential whereby such element may be maintained energized continuously for a relatively long period of time and a further novel feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby, upon removal of the top of the receptacle, the selfcontained source of electric potential, the incandescent lamp and the means supporting the same in circuit With the source of potential may be readily removed as a complete assembled unit for servicing.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device of the character stated which is not only of relatively simple but strong and durable construction and wherein the light transmitting removable top or cover of the device provides not only means for displaying a steady and continuous 'light but also provides means for the dis- .play of fraternal insignias, tioral designs, scenes, or poems of appropriate character.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawing, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the installation of the light memorial in a grave marker or plaque set in the ground, the device being shown in side elevation and suspended in leveled condition in a receiving opening in the plaque.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2, with parts broken away.

FIG. 5 is a partial section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is ra fragmentary section through a portion of the top cover of the housing showing the use of a protective metal mesh over the transparent window of the cover.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, FIG. l iilustrates one method of installing the memorial device for use, In this figure the light memorial device is generally designated 10 while the numeral 12 generally designates a memorial slab, plaque or the like such as is customarily used and which lies at upon or is sunken into the earth, as shown, the earth here being generally designated 14.

This is merely illustrative in FIG. 1 of any one of a number of different ways of using the memorial device. It will, of course, be readily obvious that the earth may be provided with a suitable hole in which the body of the device could be set with the top thereof flush with the surface of the earth or, as in the installation here illustrated, the memorial slab or plaque would be provided with an opening 16 of a suitable diameter to receive the body of the memorial device and the top of the opening would be chamfered as indicated at 18 for engagement by the beveled or inclined outer surface of the top or bezel of the device whereby when the device is introduced into the opening 16 in the plaque, even though the t of the lower part of the body of the device is not close in the ground or, in other words, may be a loose fit in the underlying hole in the ground, the memorial device lwill level itself so that the plane of the top of the device will come into the plane of the top surface of the plaque 12, as will be readily apparent.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the specically shown mounting for the memorial device is not to be considered in any way limiting upon the use or manner in which the memorial device may be set up or installed for use. AS stated, it may be placed directly into the earth or it may be placed in a suitable receiving opening in the wall of a vault or in any other suitable receptive opening.

Referring now more specifically to the construction of the memorial device as illustrated in FIG. 2 and in the several sectional views, it will be seen that the device comprises a housing body 20, preferably of circular crosssectional form and embodying the cylindrical side wall 22 and the bottom 24 while the top of the housing is open to the full inside diameter thereof as indicated at 26 and carries a readily removable top or cover which is generally designated 28.

The material of the housing 20 is here shown sectioned for plastic or other similar material of a suitable nature. However, it is to be understood that while plastic has been shown, the housing may be formed of any number of other suitable materials such as copper, steel, tin, glass, aluminum or brass.

Means is provided for attaching the cover or top 28 to the wall of the housing so that the cover can be readily removed and such means is here shown as being in the form of screw threads formed about the exterior of the Wall 22 of the housing, such screw threads being designated 30.

The cover 28 comprises the bezel 32, the opening 34 of which is of somewhat smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the housing 2t) while the external surface of the bezel is formed with the sloping or undercut shoulder 36 having the same degree of inclination as the charnfer 1S of the opening 16 in the slab 12.

The bezel carries the transparent or translucent window panel 38 which is here illustrated as it may be of glass or other suitable transparent or translucent material and the peripheral portion of the window 38 is secured by the bezel when it is threaded onto the top end of the housing 2G, to the top edge of the housing, between the sealing rings or gaskets 40 and 42. For securing the window in covering position over the open top of the housing in this manner between the sealing gaskets, the bezel is, ofcourse, provided with the ange 44 which defines the opening 34 and which, naturally, is of a suitable diameter to extend over the top edge of the housing and the interior surface of the bezel below the flange 44 is screw threaded as indicated at 46 for engagement with the screwthreads 30 in the housing wall.

The chamber 48 provided by the housing and in which the hereinafter described parts of the device are placed, has a certain depth which permits the parts enclosed to be located clear of contact with the underside of the window 38.

Within the chamber 48 is the removable receptacle 5t) formed of a suitable material for conducting electric current. The receptacle 50 is provided to contain an electric battery or other suitable electric or energy cell. Any suitable type of battery or any battery of suitable design or construction for placement in the receptacle may be employed. Such energy cell is here generally designated by the letter C and shown as consisting of three conventional dry cell electric batteries, each being designated 52. These dry cells or cells of the type common-ly employed in hand ashlights, are well known as having a metal casing which forms one current terminal and a central post, here designated 52', which forms the opposite electric terminal, The metal receptacle 50 is shown as having, for the purpose of employing three dry cells of the nature described, the upstanding button portions 54 of the metal bottom of the receptacle Sil, upon each of which the metal bottom part of a battery cell rests and the top ends of the terminal posts S2' are disposed in a common horizontal plane or in a plane extending transversely of the casing and receptacle, for the purpose about to be described.

The receptacle 50 fits relatively snugly in the casing or housing 20 and 'has disposed over and resting upon the top thereof the disc 56 formed of plastic or other suitable insulating material. For electrically connecting the terminal posts 52' the underside of the disc is shown as carrying the metal conductor plate 58 which is in electrical contact with each of the terminal posts 52 of the dry cells and upon the top of the disc 56 is a metal spring `terminal 60 adapted to be engaged by the center contact of a conventional incandescent light unit such as that designated 62 and this spring terminal 60 is in electrical connection with the plate 58 by the rivet 64 or other suitable means.

Overlying the disc 56 is the incandescent bulb holder or support 66. This is here shown as a plate having a length approximating the inside diameter of the housing as shown in FIG. 3 and having at its center or midway of its ends, the shell or socket 68 which is open at its bottom and formed or screw threaded or otherwise formed to receive and hold the base of the incandescent lamp in the conventional manner of a flashlight. This shell 68 is disposed directly above and spaced from the spring contact 60 and is made with the body of the bar 66 of which it forms a part, of a suitable metal for conducting electric current.

The plate or bar 66 extends across the width of the disc 56 and suitable means may be provided for maintaining the plate at a proper elevation `to avoid contact between the shell 68 and the spring contact 60. Any means may be employed for this purpose such as spacer pins or legs '70 carried by the plate 66 to contact the top of the disc 56.

When it becomes necessary to either replace ther batteries or the incandescent lamp, the receptacle 50 is removed through the open top 26 of the housing. To facilitate this there are provided the two lifting rods 72, each of whichv extends through an aperture 74 in the plate or bar 66. Each of these rods is threaded at its lower end as indicated at 76 and extends through a suitable opening in the disc 56 and is threaded into a threaded socket 78 in the top edge or rim receptacle 50 in the manner illustrated.

The top end of each of the lift rods 72 is formed in a manner to facilitate grasping the rod as by means of a ring or the like 80 which, as shown, is disposed above the top of the bar 66.

The rods 72 are of current conductors and at their threaded ends they `are in electrical connection with the metal of the receptacle Sil and at their upper ends below the rings 80 they `are in electrical contact with the bulb supporting bar 66.

With the use of three battery units 52 in the manner shown having their central or `posit-ive terminals 52'in electrical contact with the plate 58 and with the negative terminals at the bottoms thereof in electrical contact with the receptacle 50, the batteries will be connected in parallel, the current passing from the positive terminals 52 to the disc plate 58 and into and through the filament of the incandescent lamp and then t by way of the conductor plate 66, the lift rods 72 and the metal receptacle 50 back to the negative terminals of the batteries.

For the protection of the transparent window 38 against damage, use may be made, if desired, of a filagreed or mesh metal cover over the top of be made in the bezel 32, as indicated at 84, by which to engage the edge of the metal covering which, of course, would be of circular form, and thus secure such covering down upon the surface of the transparent window 38.

It will, of course,

the location or situation in which the device is to be placed for use. Consequently different types of electrical potential producing means may be employed, than the individual dry cells here illustrated. For example, use may be made of a suitable type of solar cell in place ofthe dry cells herein disclosed. Such solar cell may be of the` petual or eternal light structure which can be produced relatively inexpensively and which will also be strong and durable and which can be serviced easily and quickly as needed.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrat-ive and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within i the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

portion of the metal so as to function as electric the transparent panel 38 as indicated at 82 in FIG. 6. Suitable modification may be obvious that the memorial device i may be made in any height or width depending upon I claim:

1. A memorial light comprising a housing having a top opening, a closure for said opening detachably joined to the housing and including light transmitting means, means forming a source of electrical potential in the housing, an incandescent electric lamp element, means supporting said lamp element in the housing between said closure and said means, means electrically connecting said lamp element, the supporting means therefor and said source of potential in circuit, and said connecting means comprising a pair of opposed metallic elements operatively connected to said source of potential and extending upwardly toward said top opening facilitating manually moving said source of potential, together with said lamp and supporting means as a unit, into and out of said housing top opening when said closure is removed.

2. The invention as deiined by claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a Ibezel and the light transmitting means comprises a disc secured by the bezel to the housing.

3. The invention as defined by claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a bezel and the light transmitting means comprises a disc secured lby the bezel to the housing and said lbezel has a relatively wide at top surface and an encircling outer side surface sloping downwardly and inwardly toward the side of the housing, and forming an undercut shoulder.

4. The invention as dened by claim 1, in combination with a tbody such as a memorial slab having an opening formed to receive the housing and the opening having a chamfered top edge, and said cover includes a bezel enclosing said light transmitting means, and said bezel has an encircling outer side surface sloping downwardly and inwardly toward the side of the housing, forming an undercut shoulder adapted to rest upon said chamfered edge of the slab opening when the housing is in operative position in said opening.

5. The invention as dened by claim 1, with a receptacle in the housing having said self-contained source of electrical potential therein, said receptacle lbeing metallic and included in said circuit.

6. A memorial light comprising a housing having a top opening, a closure for said opening detachably joined to the housing and including light transmitting means, means forming a source of electrical potential in the housing, an incandescent electric lamp element, means supporting said lamp element in the housing between said closure and said means, means electrically connecting said lamp element, the supporting means therefor and said source of potential in circuit and means in the housing operatively connected to said source of potential for facilitating moving said source of potential, together with said lamp and supporting means as a unit, into and out of said housing top opening when said closure is removed, a metallic receptacle inthe housing, said source of electric potential comprising a battery in the receptacle having an electric terminal of one sign in electrical connection with said receptacle, said lamp supporting means comprising a metal current conducting plate disposed across the housing and having electrical connection with one side of said lamp, and said means for facilitating moving said source of potential comprising a pair of grasping rods extending through and electrically connected to said current conductin-g plate at opposite sides of the housing and detachably electrically connected to the metal receptacle.

7. A memorial light comprising a housing having a top opening, a closure for said opening detachably joined to the housing and including light transmitting means, means forming a source of electrical potential in the housing, an incandescent electric lamp element, means supporting said lamp element in the housing between said closure and said means, means electrically connecting said lamp element, the supporting means therefor and said source of potential in circuit, and means in the housing operatively connected to said source of potential for facilitating moving said source of potential together with said lamp and supporting means as a unit, into and out of said housing top opening when said closure is removed, a metallic receptacle in the housin said source of electric potential comprising a battery in the receptacle having an electrical terminal of one sign in electrical connection with said receptacle, said lamp supporting means comprising a metal current conducting plate disposed across the housing and having electrical connection with one side of said lamp, and said means for facilitating moving said source of potential comprising a pair of grasping rods extending through and electrically connected to said current conducting plate at opposite sides of the housing and detachably electrically connected to the metal receptacle, the said means electrically connecting the lamp element, the supporting means therefor and the source of potential in circuit, includes a disc element spanning the casing and supported on said receptacle, and electric current conducting means in contact with the terminal of opposite sign of the source of potential and having electrical connection with the opposite side of said incandescent lamp.

8. A memorial light comprising a housing having a top opening, a closure for said opening detachably joined `to the housing and including light transmitting means, means `forming a source of electrical potential in the housing, an incandescent electric lamp element, means supporting said lamp element in the housing between ysaid closure and said means, means electrically connecting said lamp element, the supporting means therefor and said source of potential in circuit, and means in the housing operatively connected to said source of potential for facilitating moving said source of potential, together with said lamp and supporting means as a Iunit, into and out of said housing top opening when said closure is removed, a metal receptacle in the housing, said self-contained source of poten-tial comprising an electric cell 4therein .and having a terminal of one sign in electrical engagement with the receptacle, the means in said circuit including a disc member overlying said cell and centered in the receptacle, a cur-rent conducting means carried by the disc member and in electrical connection with the terminal of opposite sign of said cell, the said means supporting said lamp element comprising a current conducting bar extending across said housing above said disc and carrying a shell in which is mounted the lamp base which forms one contact of the lamp circuit, `said lamp base including an opposite contact projecting down toward the said disc and electrically engaging a contact connected to said current conducting means carried by the disc, and said means for facilitating moving the source of potential comprising a pair of upstanding rods each extending through an end of said conducting bar and through said disc and removably secured at its lower end to the receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,572,214 2/1926 'Mci-Ewing et al.

2,4611 14 -3 /1949 Oury 24o- 10.65 3,007,110 10/ 1961 Rosenstrach 24o-10.66 3,147,927 9/1964 Steele et al 24U-10.61

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. J. W. PRICE, Assistant Examiner.` 

